This blog is designed to exchange ideas about how to dramatically cut your gear weight to make tramping (hiking) trips less strenuous, but still remain safe and sensible. Subscribe, make comments, ask for advice, or share your lightweight gear experiences with our community.
The header photo features me on Kay's Creek Saddle. The pack is the 45Lt Zpacks Arc Blast, hiking poles Helinox FL120 and watch a Suunto Vector.

14 Nov 2010

I splashed out today on some new digital scales - $40 at the Warehouse. I thoroughly recommend you go digital - more accurate. I re-weighed all my gear again today, there was a difference from my old "dial" scales.

I have updated my weights on my gear page. After my big Christmas trip I will have a more accurate "average" daily food weight.

As always, I enjoy your feedback. If you have a gear list, email it to rob@assess.co.nz and I will post it. Or let me know your web page address where your list sits.

9 Nov 2010

My new Hexamid tarp arrived last week and I immediately headed for the bush for a trial. I was praying for bad weather!! But Nelson sunshine prevailed. I did an overnight in the Bryant Range - 8.30 hours on Saturday and 4.30 hours on Sunday.

I camped below Dun Saddle on Saturday night. It's the mineral belt, so not a comfy spot to bed down!
Joe at Zpacks.com did a great job on this tarp. I got the version without netting as I use a bivy bag with my lightweight sleeping bag, great protection against rain splash and extra warmth if weather turns nasty.
If it's mid summer with high temperatures, I put the bag on top of the bivy.

I also use a Gossamer Gear Polycyro ground cloth. Not really needed as my bivy has a sil-nylon base but for a couple of grams it adds some extra protection to the bivy if really damp or rough ground. I use to use a piece of tyvek (would still recommend this and may go back to it, but heavier than polycyro).

The Hemamid is made of cuben fiber - incredibly light and strong and 100% waterproof. If it's good enough for Americans Cup sails it's ok for us backpackers! I got Joe to sew an additional beak on the front to stop rain splash in NZ conditions. He liked the idea so much that he has added it as an optional extra. See photo below.

There was more room than I thought. I parked myself towards the back of the shelter, but with the extra beak you could almost squeeze two in here. In fact Joe did this with his wife on the latter part of his 159 day CDT trip - Surely the ultimate testing ground! Here are some pictures of my set up - more to come. I hope I can get some nasty weather ones - do I really!!!

If you check out You Tube you'll see a clip of the Hexamid in heavy rain. Joe also has a great snow shot in his CDT pictures on his website.

21 Oct 2010

A few years ago I discovered pack pockets when I got my first lightweight pack, a MacPac Amp35 and then a P2 from Ultra Light Adventures

These pack pockets are usually in-built or come as add-ons for hip belts or shoulder straps. I love the convenience of these light additions. They are great for small, compact digital cameras, GPS, and on-the-go snack bars. Also I use a pocket for go-to items like sun block and lip balm. They really save you from having to take off your pack to dive into side or front pockets for these items - especially the camera.

Gossamer Gear sell these pockets separately to fit their pack range (see picture of my new ones on my GG Gorilla Pack.
But they will also fit on other packs. Check with the team at GG and ask them if they would fit your pack model.

I went for small size - 8 x 15 x 4cms at 18g each - they are a perfect size. Another cunning thing, they have two-way zips and the shoulder pockets have a left and right option with zip facing inwards. These are great for the digital camera. When mine was in the hip belt pocket, it always got knocked around when I took off my pack.

The shoulder option (not tested yet) will enable quicker access for those "capture the moment" shots whilst on the move. Also, when removing the pack, it will avoid the hip belt flying open with the weight of the camera and bashing on the ground. Here are some pictures.

23 Sep 2010

It's amazing how people invent simple, small and inexpensive items hat are so practical. You know, the type of products or services that make you want to say,"Why didn't I think of that?"

The PicStick is one such invention. It's a small plastic gizmo that fits on the end of your hiking pole that enables you to mount your camera. You fully extend your pole, set your camera on a 10 second timer and then hold it out in front of you with some great mountain scenery behind - smile, and bingo, you have a great shot of yourself in the wilderness. It also works great with video for a 360 panorama with yourself as the centre piece. Here's what it looks like.

I bought one last year. It's a "must have" piece of equipment. Cost is $US11.98. I love it! To see it in action check out the two pictures of me in the Trip Photos section on the left of this page. Or go to the StickPic website

21 Sep 2010

Many trampers "talk" about going lighter and they tinker around the fringes. If you are seriously thinking of carrying less weight (and who doesn't) then first concentrate on the big four and go from there.

The Pack - Why carry 2.5Kgs on you back before you even start to load your pack! The bigger the pack to more you put in it. For most trips up to a full week 35 to 40 liters in more than enough. I never need anymore than 35 liters. Make sure you have good outside storage, rear and side mesh pockets and bungy lacing. I can recommend Gossamer Gear's Gorilla pack and Ultra Light Adventure's Conduit or Circuit. Dyneema fabric is light and bullet proof for bush bashing.

Your Boots - It takes a lot of energy to lift 1.5kgs of weight on every step for 4 to 6 hours! Boots were the last heavy piece of equipment I gave up - should have done it first up. Good trail running shoes will have you flying along and if you are doing a lot of river crossings you won't be lugging around another kilo of water in those wonderful Gortex waterproof boots. As for "ankle support", I'm sure that's a marketing ploy by boot manufactures. Mountain runners subject their ankle to more stress than us trampers and they fair OK. Try any good brand of trail running shoe that had good toe cap and extended side protection - I use New Balance 410 (out of stock now), Inov8 330, Montrail make a couple of good shoes. Most of these shoes weigh in at 600 to 700gms. I loved the old Montrail Vitesses but they stopped making them at the height of their popularity with the light weight community. Insane!

Sleeping Bag - I have two - one for 2 to 3 season and the other for 3 to 4 seasons. I basically tramp 3 seasons. You can get some very good bags between 450 and 700kgs - My favourite is Western Mountaineering I would recommend the WM Summerlite for a "go to" bag. For winter conditions try the WM UltraIight. I have a MacPac Adventure 300 bag for the 3rd season - It's waterproof and the added weight (700gms) is OK, as I don't need the bivy for water splash protection under my tarp. I also have the WM HighLite as my 2/3 season bag (455grams), great combined with my Oware bivy under my tarp.

Tent - Once again dependent on where and what season you are using your shelter in, but I am a tarp or tarp tent man now. You can pitch these in many ways and combined with a light weight bivy bag you will get great protection. I have the Oware eVent bivy at 284gms - a shitty website, but great gear. Checkout Mountain Laurel Designs for good bivys. I have just invested in the new Hexamid tarp with some special additions Joe is sewing in for NZ conditions - extended beak - more on this in future blogs. My 2 person shelter is the old Henry Shires Squall Classic at 700gms. Do your homework. There are hundreds of blogs and lightweight sites you can research. Checkout Six Moons (solo enhanced) and Mountain Laurel Designs tarp. They have some great tarps and tarp tents. The Gossamer Gear SpinnTwinn is also a winner.

You can cut 50% off your weight with these four items alone and that's just the beginning! My pack, sleeping gear and shelter come in at under 1.5Kgs!! Use to be 5.75Kgs!!!

Here's a shot of my Oware Cat2 tarp at Ruby Lake last Easter - This tarp has served me well, but in search of lightness I have sold it and am thinking about the new cuben fiber Hexamid from zpack
Joe, who runs Zpack and manufactures in his own backyard did 159 days on the CDT with this tarp and it performed well.
I am talking to him about making some modification for NZ conditions.
You can see the stock version at here
I intend to have a roll-up extension to the beak - about 60 odd centimeters. Here's the coolest part, it weights in at 211grams!

10 Sep 2010

I've had a few packs! From the old wooden and aluminium frames of my teen tramping days to the ultra comfortable Macpacs. My movement into lightweight began when I realised my fabulous Macpac Glissade weighed 2.5 kgs before I stuck anything inside it! If you are starting to move into lightweight tramping, start with the big four - Pack, Boots, Bag and Tent.

I want to crow about my new purchase, the Gossamer Gear Gorilla Pack. This is one tough, light (750grams) pack that has the exact capacity I need for up to an eight day plus trip. Check this little baby out at http://www.gossamergear.com

Prior to this pack I alternated between a ULA Circuit and My old Macpac Amp 35. Both served me well. However the former was a bit too big (capacity wise) and the latter was a bit too heavy even after removing the foam back pad.

I've seam sealed the pack on the inside and added bungee cords to the sides.

About Rob McKay

I'm a member of the Upper Clutha (UCTC) and Auckland Tramping clubs (ATC) and a have been an active tramper (Hiker) from boyhood and Boy Scouts. About 10 years ago I began my journey into ultralight weight hiking. Most of my multi day trips I never exceed 8 to 10Kgs (base weight 4Kgs) recently doing the John Muir Trail in the High Sierras and ATC 10 day Xmas trips with 10Kgs. I am a self-confessed gear addict! I have a passion for wine and viticulture. I am an Industrial/Organisational Psychologist, and published author. I enjoy talking and researching lightweight gear, so feel free to contact me for suggestions and advice at lightweightrob@gmail.com